Return of Oz

Guillen clears the air, will be back in 2011

Ozzie Guillen will manage the White Sox in 2011, but his long-term future could depend on the fortunes of the Sox and whether his relationship with general manager Ken Williams will improve.

After meeting separately with Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Williams, Guillen was convinced enough to return and not explore a lucrative free agent market for managers this winter.

"(Reinsdorf) and (Williams) told me just continue to manage that thing and move on making this thing work, make it happen," Guillen said Monday night before the Sox lost to Boston 6-1. "We owe it to the people, we owe it to the fans, we owe it to the media, we owe it to the players to put this thing in the right direction. And we will. On my side, we will move in the right direction. I promise you that."

Guillen said he felt secure enough to stay despite not having his team option for 2012 picked up.

Despite disagreements with Guillen that started last winter, firing isn't in Williams' plans.

"He did want to know what his status was and I told him directly: I hope I never have another manager at least while I'm sitting in this chair, I hope I never have another manager of the Chicago White Sox other than him," Williams said.

Nor does Williams plan to grant permission to any team interested in talking to Guillen.

"He wants to be the manager of the Chicago White Sox," Williams said. "That's what he communicated to me."

Williams and Guillen will try to work toward improving a team that fell out of American League Central title contention and could have as many as nine free agents this winter, including slugger Paul Konerko.

"In our minds, it's still with the mindset of trying to win," Williams said. "Once you start using the R word (rebuilding), you create a different kind of mindset. I think a part of what we've done here is making sure our players understand that whatever the composition of the team is, it's designed to win."

Guillen stressed to Reinsdorf that he'd be interested in the Cubs' position only if the Sox didn't want him back. Guillen also reinforced his support for his coaches, although bench coach Joey Cora could depart for a managerial position.

"I know people are going to say, 'Wow, here we go with Ozzie again,'" Guillen said of his coaches. "No. I love the way they work; I love their work ethic."

Alex Rios left in the eighth after fouling a pitch near his left knee.